This month we'll be reading and having a little chit chat about Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge. We found this to be a fantastic easy first read and since most people had reached out and already bought this, it seemed logical to make it the first read of our Adult Book Club. So, let's discuss...
How is everyone getting on? Where is everyone up to? I couldn't believe how much I related to the preface alone!! 😯😪😂
I’m currently still reading the first chapter on histories. very eye opening and to think a lot of extreme racism was happening less than a century ago. It’s insightful to see how the system worked in oppression. being from Liverpool and living by the docks, I’m viewing it very differently now, a whole new perspective. I’d be interested to see if these histories were pretty knew to people too? I knew the absolute basics but wow.
I'm a bit behind, but even within the first two chapters it's extremely clear how much I'm going to learn, and how much history I wasn't taught, and never thought to research on my own as a white person. Looking forward to more discussion, listening & learning.
Ah don’t worry I’m about halfway through chapter 3- we will be discussing this Sunday and next.
definitely a lot to learn and I’m the same with our own history - wish I hadn’t just relied on what we were taught at school.
I am definitely looking forward to discussing the topics In the book such as structural racism and the system in general. a lot to be said.
bring us your favourite quotes Everyone!
Hi everyone,
Really excited about being able to share ideas and thoughts on this amazing book! Here are some quotes and sections from the first three chapters that really stood out to me:
Histories
Discrimination + power = Racism
This was very thought provoking. Especially to those who have hit back at the BLM movement saying 'well what about when Black people are racist to White people?' it simply does not exist under the same force. Of course, everyone can be prejudice, but without the power behind it, that's it, it can't be classed as racism.
The whole chapter really opened my eyes to the sections of British history that have been left out. What Reni Eddo-Lodge wrote about the perception of riots vs uprisings put me straight back in the present day with the protests following George Floyd's murder in that history keeps repeating itself.
'The extremity of a riot only ever reflects the extremity of the living conditions of said rioters'.
the System
Racism as 'weaved into the fabric of our world'.
Positive discrimination
I think positive discrimination has always seemed a bit taboo, a bad thing. People should be judged on merit, regardless of their race, sex, sexuality, age ect. But of course, this isn't the case. The chapter really made me think about the privilege white people have. We never have to worry about race being a barrier when applying for jobs.
'We must see who benefits from their race, who is disproportionally impacted by negative stereotypes about their race, and to who power and privilege is bestowed upon -earned or not - because of their race, their class, their gender. Seeing race is essential to changing the system'
White Privilege
This chapter was so important to my understanding of how to be anti-racist and understanding my own white privilege, how it is an 'absence' of 'funny looks, being less likely to succeed, cultural expectations, violence'.
This chapter made me realise that white people (myself included) have to do better to unpack our white privilege, to question white spaces, not be a bystander and to use our white privilege to dismantle systemic racism.